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M. F. 

Aaron Boggs, Freshman, 3 

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Abbu San of Old Japan, 2 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 15 

After the Game, 2 acts, , 1 %. 

hrs .' (25c) 1 9 

All a Mistake, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(2Sc) 4 4 

All on Account of Polly, 3 acts, 

214 hrs. (25c) 6 10 

American Hustler, 4 acts, ZYx 

hrs (25c) 7 4 

As a Woman Thinketh, 3 acts, 

2^ hrs (25c) 9 7 

At the End of the Rainbow, 3 

acts, ^J4 hrs (25c) 6 14 

Bank Cashier, 4 acts, 2 hrs. 

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Black Heifer, 3 acts, 2 h. (25c) 9 3 
Boy Scout Hero, 2 acts, 1^ l^rs. 

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Brookdale Farm, 4 acts, 214 

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Brother Josiah, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

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Burns Rebellion, 1 hr (25c) 8 5 

Busy Liar, 3 acts, 2^4 h. (2Sc) 7 4 
Civil Service, 3 acts, 2^/4 hrs. 

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College Town, 3 acts, 2% 

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Danger Signal, 2 acts, 2 hrs.. 7 4 
Daughter of the Desert. 4 

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Deacon Dubbs, 3 acts, 2^4 hrs. 

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Deacon Entangled, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

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Down in Dixie, 4 acts, 2i'$ 

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Dream That Came True, 3 

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Editor-in-Chief, 1 hr. . . . (25c) 10 
Enchanted Wood, l.)4 h.(35c).Optnl. 
Everyyouth, 3 acts, 1 J^ h. (25c) 7 6 
Face at the Window, 3 acts, 2 

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Fun on • the Podunk Limited, 

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Heiress of Hoetown, 3 acts, 2 

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Her Honor, the Mayor, 3 acts, 

2 hrs. (2Sc) 3 5 

High School Freshman, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 12 

Honor of a Cowboy, 4 acts, 2% 

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Indian Days, 1 hr (50c) 5 2 



In Plum Valley, 4 acts, 2^ 

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Iron Hand, 4 acts, 2 hrs.. (25c) 5 4 
Jayville Junction, P^ hrs.(25c)14 17 
Kicked Out of College, 3 acts, 

214 hrs (25c)10 9 

Kingdom of Heart's Content, 3 

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Laughing Cure, 2 acts, W^ hrs. '' 

- (25c) 4 5 

Lexington, 4 acts, 254 h. . (25c) 9 4 
Little Buckshot, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs. 

(25s) 7 '^ 

Lodge of Kye Tyes, 1 hr.(25c)13 
Man from Borneo, 3 acts, 2 

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Mirandy's Minstrels. . . . (25c) Optnl. 
Mrs. Tubbs of Shantytown, 3 

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New Woman, 3 acts, 1 hr 3 6 

Old Maid's Club, 154 hrs.(25c) 2 16 
Old Oaken Bucket, 4 acts, 2 

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Old School at Hick'ry Holler, 

*• 114 hrs (25c) 12 9 

•On the Little Big Horn, 4 acts, 

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Out in the St.reets, 3 acts, 1 hr. 6 4 
Parlor Matches, 2 acts, V/t hrs. 

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Poor Married Man, 3 acts, 2 

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Prairie Rose, 4 acts, 254 h.(25c) 7 4 

Rummage Sale, 50 min 4 10 

R«stic Romeo, 2 acts, 2% 

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Savageland, 2 acts, 2^4 hrs. (50c) 5 5 
School Ma'am, 4 acts, 1^ hrs. 6 5 
Scrap of Paper, 3 acts, 2 hrs.. 6 6 
Sewing for the Heathen, 40 min. 9 
Southern Cinderella, 3 acts, 2 

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Star Bright, 3 acts, 2i4 h. (?5c) 6 5 
Teacher, Kin I Go Horne? 2 

scenes, 35 min 7 3 

Those Dreadful Twins, 3 acts, 

2 hrs * (25c) 6 4 

Thread of Destiny, 3 acts, 2^ 

hrs. (25c) 9 16 

Tonv, the Convict, 5 acts, 2y2 

hrs (25c) 7 4 

Town Marshal, 4 acts, 2^4 

~ hrs (25c) 6 3 

Trial of Hearts, 4 acts, 2^4 hrs. 

(25c) 6 18 

Trip to Storyland, V/a. hrs. (25c) 17 23 
Uncle Josh, 4 acts, 2% hrs.(2Sc) 8 3 
Under Blue Skies, 4 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 7 10 

Under the Laurels, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 6 4 
When the Circus Came to 

Town, 3 acts, 2% hrs. (25c) 5 3 



T.S.DENISON & COMPANY,Publishers,154W.RandolphSt., Chicago 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF 



A CHRISTMAS PLAY 

IN ONE ACT 

FOR CHILDREN 



BY 

MAY HARBIN FLINT 




CHICAGO 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 

Publishers 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF 



CHARACTERS. 

The Empty Stocking Elf 

The Old Clock That Fell Asleep 

Santa Claus Who Grieves 

Because the Spirit of Play is Dead in the Land 

Mrs. Santa Claus 

Mr. Moon-man 

Unky-Punky The Chief of 

the Brownies, Whose Brains Are in a Book 
RuMPER Stilkerchen. . . .Who Carries His Chiefs Brains 
Other Brownies 

TOYS. 

Peter Rabbit A Mechanical Toy 

Jack-in-the-Box 

Lady Emmeline A Militant Suffragette 

The Love Doll 

A Soldier Who Wants to Fight 

Noah and His Ark 

A Teddy Bear 

A Clown 

Dorothy A Pretty Doll 

Other Dolls, Soldiers, Kezvpies and Toys are Entirely 
Discretionary. 

and 

Victoria Asterbilt The Girl 

Who Has a Thousand Dolls and is Lonely 

Time — Christmas Eve. 

Place — Santa Claus' Toy Shop. 

Time of Playing — About Thirtv Minutes. 



copyright, 1916, BY EBEN H. NORRIS, 



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THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

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THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 



Scene Plot. 



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^' Door 

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Table 



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B — Peter Rabbit, C — Lady Emmeline, D — Clown, E — Noah, F- 
Teddy Bear, G — Love Doll, H — Dorothy, I— Soldier. 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

R. means right of stage; C, center; R. C, right center; 
L., left; R. D., right door; L. D., left door, etc.; upstage, 
away from footlights ; downstage, near footlights. The 
actor is supposed to be facing the audience. 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF 



Scene: Santa Claus' zvork shop. Doors R. and L. 
At rear of stage is a zvindozu through which Mr. Moon- 
man appears. A bag, a table and a chair are at R. C. near 
front. On the table is a big open book, a quill pin, an ink 
stand and a burning candle. During the first part of the 
play, until they are given life, the toys shoidd keep as still 
as possible. For position of toys at rise of curtain, see 
Scene Plot. 

At rise, Santa Claus is discovered stooping over a big 
bulging bag. He rises and drops wearily into a chair. 

Santa Claus {irritably). Mrs. Santa Claus, you needn't 
be all night about bringing my tonic. 

Mrs. Santa Claus {waddling in from door R., car- 
rying a tremendous bottle and soup ladle). My dear, I 
knew you'd work yourself completely down. There {gives 
him medicine). Swallow it all. {Tilts up spoon.) Now 
don't you want a bite of peppermint to take the sour taste 
out of your mouth ? {She takes a huge stick of peppermint 
from the bag on the floor. Santa Claus shakes head. 
Mrs. Santa Claus wiping eyes.) Let me feel your pulse. 
Anybody who refuses candy is indeed ill. 

Santa Claus {sadly). It is my heart. I am sick for old 
times when children were children, when they dreamed of 
me and talked of me for eleven months before Christmas. 
Now they have outgrown me. I am a drug on the market. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. Pff! Pff! You think the times are 
out of joint. It's your liver. This very night I'm going to 
put mustard plasters all over you. Th.en you won't be blue. 

Santa Claus. Worse still. I'll be red and blistered. 
Help me check off these last names {looks in book) and 
then I'll sleep till twelve o'clock. But first let me see what 
kind of night it is. {He goes to door L.) Wcnderful! 
The Christmas Star is shining all over the world, but the 



8 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

spirit of Christmas is dead in the land. Somewhere the 
little Christ child is crying because boys and girls have 
grown old and wise. Somewhere the little Christ child is 
crying because boys and girls have forgotten how to play. 
Mrs. Santa Claus. Now, Santa, come out of that 
awful draught before you catch pleurisy. Let's begin work. 
Who gets this handsome doll? (Points to Lady Emme-. 

LINE.) 

Santa Claus. Here's the tag. (Gives her tag.} It is 
for Victoria Asterbilt, the girl who has a thousand dolls. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. A thousand dolls ? Then why should 
she have a thousand and one? 

Santa Claus (crossly). Why? Why? Why should there 
be milk in the milky way and none for hungry babies ? Why 
are there always toys for rich children and none for poor? 
Don't ask me. My head aches for trying to think out such 
things. Tie this tag on that soldier. Thank you. 

Mrs. Santa Claus (going up to Love Doll.) Who is 
to have this precious baby ? 

Santa Claus (slowly). I don't know yet. That is the 
Love Doll. Every year I make one doll into which I put 
all the love I would have given a wee lass had God sent us 
one. I must make no mistake about that doll. It shall go 
to an old-fashioned girl, a girl who has a real mother heart. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. Why, you must know thousands. 
All little girls have mother hearts. 

Santa Claus. I don't know of a single one. Now-a-days 
little girls are too grown up to play dolls. They mock at 
fairies and even poke fun at me. They have slammed the 
door of Make Believe Land. (Breaks dozvn and sobs.) Oh, 
it's sad, sad, to outlive one's day. 

Mrs. Santa Claus (tenderly). Come, dear, you are all 
tired out. See, it's eleven o'clock. (The clock strikes.) 
You have only an hour in which to sleep. 

Santa Claus (bitterly). If I slept forever little would 
the children care. (They zuaddle out together.) 

(There is a profound silence.) 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 9 

Lady 'Em. Well, if that isn't the limit! Why did he 
make us., I'd like to know? 

Jack. Because, just as Peter Rabbit is wound up to 
jump he's wound up to make toys. He'll go on making 
them until his springs run down. 

Clown. If I could move I'd fall down and break myself 
into a thousand pieces. 

Lady Em. I'm English, I act. • I don't waste my time 
in making silly threats. Shall we blow up the toy shop? 
That would bring the children to their senses. 

Peter Rabbit (trembling). But what about us? 

Lady Em. There have to be martyrs. 

Jack. No tombstones and wreaths for me. 

Soldier. Let's declare war on children. 

Lady Em. (scornfully) . American children are too wise 
to fight. 

Noah. Perhaps another flood will come and I'll let 'em 
all drown. 

Dorothy. I hate children. 

Noah. You'd better say you hate Christmas. You know 
the old saying in Toyland : 

''Needles and pins, needles and pins, 
It's at Christmas your trouble begins." 

Soldier. Couldn't we shoot Christmas off the calendar? 

Jack. Wake up, stupid. Christmas is already off the 
calendar and is waiting just outside the door. 

Lady Em. In a few minutes the clock strikes twelve 
and then Santa CJaus carries us all down to earth. 

Teddy. And if the clock does not strike? 

Lady Em. Christmas will always wait outside the door, 
Santa Claus will always sleep, and we shall remain in Toy- 
land forever! 

All. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

Mr. Moon-man (looking inwindozv). My ears! What's 
all this fuss about? 

Jack. Oh, Mr. Moon-man, do help us out. Christmas is 
almost here and we are just about to be carried to earth 



10 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

where we are not wanted. Children have grown old and 
wise and no longer play with toys. 

Teddy. Tell us how to keep the clock from striking 
twelve and we are saved. 

Mr. Moon-man. That is simple. Put the clock to sleep. 

Lady Em. But how? 

Mr. Moon-man. Only the Brownies can tell you that. 
They alone know how to make Time stand still. It is the 
secret of their chief, Unky-Punky. 

Jack. And where can we find Brownies ? 

Mr. Moon-man. A moment ago I saw them dancing on 
your steps — little old men, droll old men, dancing with all 
th.eir might. I would fetch them in, but I cannot turn 
back. The tide is drawing me on. Good-bye. (The moon 
vanishes.) 

Lady Em. I wish Santa Claus had made my legs mov- 
able instead of my neck. Some toy must journey across 
the floor to summon the Brownies. 

Jack. I'd go if I could, but you see how I'm fixed. 
Those who rise in Hfe cannot do much running around. 

Lady Em. Peter Rabbit could go if we could wind him 
up. He's mechanical, you know. 

Teddy (in zuhisper.) I have heard that a rabbit gets 
dreadfully worked up if you stare at him. He simply can't 
stand it. Let's all stare at Peter Rabbit. He's our only 
chance. 

Lady Em. Pass the word. (Slozvly and impressively.) 
Stare at Peter Rabbit and concentrate your mind on his 
legs. (They pass the word around the room and all the 
toys stare at Peter.) 

Peter Rabbit (nervously) . What are you all looking at 
me for? Please stop it. See, I'm all quivers! You'll get 
my springs to going. (He begins to jump about.) Now 
see what you have done ! 

Lady Em. To the door, Peter. Hop to the door and 
implore the Brownies to save us. 

Peter Rabbit (hopping). I'm too little to go. It's mean 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 11 

of you to make me. Boo ! hoo ! This is what comes of 
being a mechanical toy. {He hops out door L.) 

Jack. Why, he's hypnotized! (Music: A jig or some 
lively air. 

Enter from L. Brownies, dragging Peter Rabbit. 

Unky-Punky {pointing to Peter zuith derision). Didn't 
Santa Claus leave a few screws loose in his head? If we 
hadn't caught him he would have hopped into Limbo. 

Jack. Didn't he give you our message? 

Unky-Punky. Not much! 

Peter Rabbit. You wound me up to hop, not to talk. 

Unky-Punky. What do you want? We must away. 

Jack. Unky-Punky, you are awfully wise. 

Unky-Punky. That's what they all say when they want 
to ask favors. 

Jack. Unky-Punky, we want you to put the clock to 
sleep so that Time will stand still and there will be no 
Christmas day. 

Unky-Punky. Hah ! That's easy. Where are my 
brains ? They got too heavy for my head, so I put them in 
a book. That's where all earth people keep their brains. 
Rumper Stilkerchen. 

Rumper. Here, sir. 

Unky-Punky. See how an old man can best be put 
to sleep. 

Rumper {at center of stage Rumper lies on stomach and 
ponderously turns a big hook marked "BRAINS!') Ac- 
cording to this volume, in which is compounded your great 
wisdom, it is but necessary to scratch the head of an old 
man and he will fall into heavy slumber. 

Unky-Punky. How wise I am ! Who but Unky-Punky 
could have made such a discovery? Boys, scratch the head 
of Father Clock, and be quick, we must away. 

{Tzuo Brownies standing on the hacks of two other 
Brownies scratch the head of the Clock, who falls asleep: 
The toys watch zuith great interest.) 

Unky-Punky {solemnly). Your wish is granted. {He 
dances dozvn stage.) 



12 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

Now 'tis the dead ' night 
And the clock sleeps tight. 

Until the toys say 
There can be no Christmas day. 
Clown. How wise you are, Unky-Punky. 
Unky-Punky (pompously). Wise. I should say so! 
Really nobody knows how wise I am. Who but Unky- 
Punky could limber up rigid toys. (Waves arm over toys.) 
See I give you life, life, Hfe! 

Teddy. Look, look! I can move all over. (He turns 
somersaults across the stage.) 

Lady Em. How strong I am! I could smash a hundred 
windows. (Waves arms and legs.) 
Jack. Well, don't try it around here. 
Unky-Punky. And now away, away! (Music: A jig, 
The Brownies join hands and dance. Unky-Punky comes\ 
dozvn to front of stage and speaks.) 

There are ash cakes to bake, 
And great switches to break. 

This is the eve we visit children bad 
Who have made their mothers sad. 

We carry them horrible dreams 

And laugh, to hear their frenzied screams. 

And now because the clock is asleep 
Christmas eve we'll always keep! 
Away, away, away! 

(Exit L. the Brozvnics zvith Elfish steps.) 
Lady Em. Now the children will get what they deserve. 
I hope the Brownies will treat them just as they treat their 
toys — leave them with their heads hanging down. 
Noah. Step on them. 
Dorothy. Punch out their eyes. 

Clown. Tear them open to- see what they are made of. 
Love Doll (crying). You are cruel, all of you, to wish 
such dreadful things. 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 13 

Lady Em. Little traitor ! Taking up for children. You 
ought to be put out of Toyland. 

Dorothy. Don't quarrel. Let's play games. 

Teddy. That's what I say. 

(Music: "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush/' or 
a fancy dance may be introduced.) 

(There is a knock at the door. The toys are frightened 
and huddle together.) 

Soldier. Position! Aim! Fire! Shoot! (He points at 
the door L. and discharges a tiny cap gun.) 

Voice. Oh, please let me in. It's awfully dark and I'm 
lost. 

Jack. Open the door. It's a fairy. (Soldier opens 
door L. and strikes attitude.) 

All (in horror). It's a ch.ild! 

Enter Victoria in dainty nightgown. 

Victoria. Oh, where am I? 

Jack. You are in Toyland where you are not wanted. 

Lady Em. Who brought you here? 

Victoria. Nobody. I was following the moon. 

Jack. And pray why were you following the moon. 

Victoria. I was hunting for the Secret of Happiness, 
because, you know, once a child finds the Secret of Happi- 
ness she is never again lonely or sad. 

Lady Em. (sniffing in disgust). You great creature. 
Are you lonely and sad ? 

Victoria. Oh, very often. You see I have no one to 
play with. 

Jack. What is your name? 

Victoria. Victoria Asterbilt. 

Teddy. Why, you are the girl with a thousand dolls. 

Jack. A thousand children and lonely? Bless me? 

Victoria. One can't be very intimate with such a big 
family. It's too much like an orphan asylum. 

Clown. Who told you about the Secret of Happiness? 

Victoria. A pixie who hopped on my pillow. See, he 
gave me these little flying shoes. (Holds up two little 



14 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

brown shoes with wings attached to the heels.) With these 
I was to follow the Moon-man. I flew and flew, oh, billions 
of miles, and then all at once my shoes dropped off on 
your steps. So the Secret of Happiness must be in Toy- 
land. Won't you tell me what it is ? 

Jack. Doing as you please 

Victoria (sadly). Oh, I'm sure that can't be it, for 
when I do as I please I am nearly always miserable. 

Jack. Getting rid of company that is not wanted. If 
you put on your spectacles you'll recognize that is a h-i-n-t 
—hint. 

Dorothy. Why, Jack, What awful manners you have! 

Victoria. Do you really want me to go? 

Jack. Yes. We hate children. 

Victoria. Then the Secret of Happmess cannot be in 
Toyland. I'm afraid I will never catch up with the Moon- 
man. (She puts on shoes and tries to fly.) Oh, what shall 
I do? I can't fly the least bit. (She begins to sob.) 

Noah. I told you another flood would come. Let me 
see if the Ark is ship-shape. (He runs around his little 
house frantically.) 

(Music: "Rigaudon," by Monsigny, or a dreamy waltz, 
preferably on violin.) 

From L. door in flits Empty Stocking Elf, a slender 
child carrying a big empty stocking. 

Elf. I thought I heard a child crying. And here she is. 
(He goes up to Victoria.) Why are you so sad — and on 
Christmas eve, too? 

Victoria. Because I cannot find the Secret of Happi- 
ness. 

Elf. Then do not cry, for the Secret of Happiness is 
here in my heart. 

Noah. Please show it to her, Mister Elf, and stop her 
from crying until I glue up this leak. 

Jack (popping up). What is your name, Mosquito, and 
what do you want in Toyland ? 

Elf. I am the spirit that looks after lonely children on 
Christmas eve. I creep into empty stockings and in every 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 15 

stocking- I leave a dream to comfort boys and girls who 
get no toys. 

Victoria (zvonderingly) . I thought all children had toys 
on Christmas. 

Elf (creeps closer to Victoria). Has no one ever told 
you that there are hundreds and hundreds of children who 
wake on Christmas morning cold and hungry? The stock- 
ings they have hung are limp, ragged, empty ! These are 
the children to whom I carry dreams. This year there are 
more empty stockings than ever before, and so I have come 
to Toyland to ask you (turning to toys) to help me fill this. 
(Holds out big stocking.) I need so many, many dreams. 

Jack. We'll stuff it with, nightmares. 

Lady Em. Silly Elf, don't you know that children have 
grown too old and wise for toys and dreams? 

Love Doll. Tonight Santa Claus wept because the spirit 
of play is dead in the land. 

Elf. The spirit of play can never die. Like the Christ- 
mas Star, it will brighten the world forever. 

Teddy. Then what was the old man blubbering over? 

Elf. Over the children whose hearts are cold and dull. 

Jack. Don't they get any toys ? 

Elf. Yes, too many. 

Lady Em. What a topsy turvy place the world must be. 
Some children get no toys, some children get too many! 

Elf. God made the world topsy turvy so that everybody 
might learn the meaning of Christmas. 

Dorothy. And what is the meaning of Christmas? 

Victoria (dismally). Getting more presents and par- 
ties and Christmas trees. 

Elf. Come, look in my heart and Ell show you the 
meaning of Christmas. 

Victoria. But I'd rather see the Secret of Happiness. 

Elf. They are the same. 

Victoria. How funny; you have little doors to your 
heart. (She opens two little cardboard doors on the breast 
of the Elf.) And there are pictures. 



16 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

Jack. Why don't you tell us what you see? Don't be 
greedy. 

Victoria. I see a little girl and she is just like me. Why, 
it's a little me ! {She jumps up and down happily.) 

Lady Em. {sourly). I hope she is behaving better than 
you. {The toys crozvd hack of Victoria and the Elf.) 

Victoria. Oh, she is fiUing stockings with dolls ! Why, 
they are my dolls! There goes Floradel into a big red 
stocking — and there are the French twins, and oh, loads 
of others! 

Jack. Is that all? 

Victoria {excitedly) . Oh, no! There is a new picture! 
The stockings have gone to the hospital. I see rows and 
rows of white beds. And, oh, goody! little girls are open- 
ing up the stockings and hugging my dolls. What a beau- 
tiful idea! {Wistfidly.) Little Elf, I know your dreams 
are lovely, but sometimes dreams don't last very long. 
Would you let me put real toys into your empty stockings? 

Elf. Bless your heart! You shall fill all the empty 
stockings you like. 

Victoria. And will Santa Claus care? 

Elf. He will care a great deal. Santa Claus is not rich 
and unless h,e has helpers he cannot visit the children of 
the poor. That is what makes Santa Claus so sad every 
Christmas. There are so many, many children for whom 
he has no toys. 

Victoria. Oh, how happy I am! 

Elf. Then you know the meaning of Christmas. 

Victoria. Yes, and I know the Secret of Happiness, too. 

Jack. What is it, Miss Smarty? 

Victoria. Making others happy. Oh, if Christmas 
morning would only come ! 

Jack. But it won't. Time is standing still. Until the 
toys say, there will be no Christmas day. 

Lady Em. At last we have our rights. 

Clown {to Victoria). Now how do you feel? 

Victoria. I feel just like crying. 

Noah. Oh, please don't. I see another leak. 



THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 17 

Jack. Why do you feel like crying? 

Victoria. Because you are missing so much fun. 

Teddy. How ? 

Victoria. You don't belong to anybody, and the most 
beautiful thing in all the world is "belonging." 

Love Doll (dreamily). Wasn't I meant to belong to 
somebody ? 

Victoria. All babies were. (Wistfully.) I believe you 
are my Dream Doll. The doll I have wanted to cuddle and 
love and sing to sleep for oh, so many years. 

Lady Em. (tearing off tag). Here's where we avoid a 
family misfit. Santa Claus addressed me to you, Victoria, 
but, believe me, you are too sentimental and old-fashioned 
for Lady Emmeline. 

Victoria. Dear, dear toys, please wake the clock. 

Toys (all except Love Doll). Never! 

Love Doll. Then I will. 

Lady Em. Traitor! 

Soldier. War on the Love Doll! (He waves a tiny flag 
and blows a trumpet. All the toys rush to his side. 

Jack (to Love Doll). Prepare for death! (The Soldier 
takes aim. Victoria throws her arms around Love Doll.) 

Victoria. They shan't hurt you, darling. 

Elf (coming to the center of stage). FooHsh toys! 
Don't you know that you cannot kill love? Love is a thou- 
sand times stronger than all the forces of Toyland. (He 
leads the Love Doll, forzvard.) And now acknowledge 
your queen. (The toys do obeisance.) 

Love Doll. Am I really queen? 

Elf. Love always rules. 

Love Doll. Then I will that the clock wakes and that 
Christmas day be at hand. 

Elf (picks up tag Lady Em. has throzvn dozun and 
fastens it to the Love Doll). And I will that you find the 
little mother for whom you were made. (Victoria claps 
her hands in' ecstasy. The clock strikes tzvelve. Victoria 



18 THE EMPTY STOCKING ELF. 

and Elf vanish. The toys resume their original places and 
become rigid. Nothing is heard but "tick-tock.") 

Enter from R. Santa Claus. Lights spring on. 

Santa Claus (yawning). Twelve o'clock! What a fine 
nap I had, and oh, such, a marvelous dream. All over the 
world children's hearts leaped because another Christmas 
had come. And everywhere I had little helpers — boys and 
girls with shining eyes who went about filling empty stock- 
ings and carrying joy! joy! joy! Why, all my shop is 
tinkling with laughter! The little Christ child is near. It 
was he who wrought my beautiful dream — and see — {zvon- 
deringly) he has found a home for the Doll o' my Heart. 

Curtain. 

{A Christmas carol is sung behind scene, or a Victor 
record of Christmas^ chimes may be used.) 



The Deacon Entandled 

By HARRY OSBORNE. 
Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy in 3 acts; 6 malus, 4 fenmlos. Time, 2 hours. Scene: 
1 interior. Characters: Deacon Penrose, a meml)er in good stand- 
ing. Calvin, his nephew. Rev. Sopher. a supporter of foreign mis- 
sions Harry Baxter, a sporting vi^riter. Rafferty, a policeman. 
A Plain Clothes Man. Mrs. Penrose. Ruth, her daughter. 
Georgie, Rev. Sopher's daughter. Katy, a maid. 
SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — In which the Deacon finds himself in a tight corner. 
Dr. Sopher, who can coax money out of a wooden Indian. A thou- 
sand dollars for the new pipe organ. Cal arrives. A clean-up- 
clouter instead of a ministerial prospect. "Did I forget my necktie 
and button my collar in the back?" The Deacon spends a night 
out. "We won't go home until morning." 

Act II. — The raid on the gambling joint. "Why didn't vou 
jump when I told you." On bail. "A thousand dollars to the Doc 
or you lose your job as Deacon; a thousand to the judge or six 
months." A sporting chance. Ready for the game. A donation 
to Foreign Missions and a double barreled courtship. The elope- 
ment. The arrest. "Come on Cal, I'll see you through." 

Act III. — The big game. Tied in the Tenth. Cal goes to the 
box. A Pinch Hitter. "Over the scoreboard." On the Deacon's 
trail — the Horse pistol — pay the fine or go to jail. A hair line 
finish. "Hold on, Copper." "Here's your thousand and here's 
your girl. Look happy and have your picture taken." A new 
son-in-law. "Bother Boarding School." T he Deacon smiles. 

A Trial o£ Hearts 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 
Price, 25 Cents 

College comedy in 4 acts; 6 males. 18 females. Time, 214, hours. 
Scenes: 3 interiors, 1 exterior. Characters: Dudley Van Antwerp, 
a wealthy college man. Philip, his best friend. Roger, Teddy, 
Jack and Jerry, fraternity men. Mrs. Van Antwerp, of great im- 
portance. Honor, Dudley's wife. Fourteen livelj'^ sorority' girls. A 
chaperone and a maid. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — Gretchen and Jerry play Romeo and Juliet. Ted pleads 
the cause of Kappa Psi. Jack argues for Delta Chi. Dudley intro- 
duces Honor to his mother. Virginia learns of Dudley's marriage. 
"I want to go home — oh. I want to go home!" 

Act II. — The football enthusiasts bring news of Barbara. 
Gretchen and Jerry study Latin and argue fraternity. Honor finds 
it all a little strange. Dudley tells Virginia his love story. "Oh, 
Dudley, you hurt me!" "There's nothing left for me but to go away!" 

Act III. — "I wonder if people ever get too busy to care!" 
Mrs. Van Antwerp opens fire and Honor stands her ground. "I 
mean to stay!" "I wish I had no heart — it aches so!" "Dear 
little girl, it is good-bye." Honor hears Dudley declare his love 
for Virginia. "Oh, Dad -Dad — your little girl is coming home!" 

Act IV.— Gretchen and Jerry "grow up." The Seniors toast 
the past, the present and the future. Mrs. Van Antwerp reproaches 
herself. "Here comes the bride." The Kappa Psis and the Delta 
Chi holds reunions. "Honor, is it really you?" "If you want me, 
I am here." _^ ___^ 

T. S, DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



The Thread of Destiny 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy-drama of the Civil War in 3 acts; 9 males, 16 females. 
Time, 21/2 hours. Scenes: 1 interior, 2 exteriors. Characters: 
Peyton Bailey, of the U. S. army. Beverly Montgomery, a con- 
federate scout. Colonel Montgomery, a gentleman of the old school. 
Tom Randolph, a Southern gallant. John Morton, of the North. 
Ralph, who did not go to war. George and Uncle Billy, slaves. 
A Union Scout. Virginia, the toast of the country. Betty, the 
"Little Colonel." Edith, a northern cousin. Louise, a spy. Eight 
charming southern girls. Mrs. Montgomery. Miss Melissy, of in- 
quisitive nature. Fanny and Mammy, slaves. 
SYNOPSIS. 

Act L — Betty breaks a looking glass. Edith calms her fears 
and tells her "the signs of the times." "Virginia has seceded." 
Beverly enlists. "A Virginia woman does not even recognize an 
acquaintance among the enemies of Virginia." 

Act II. — "I don' wan' no tarnished silber linin' to my cloud." 
"There are some things more precious than money, than jewels." 
"Death cannot conquer love — nor eternity." "Some day there will 
be no North, no South, but the Union." The Union scout falls a 
prey to Edith's fascinations and her cleverness wins the coveted 
dispatch. Virginia opens the door — to Peyton. Bevei'ly is dis- 
covered. Friendship proves stronger than duty. 

Act III. — Three years work a great change. Peyton pleads in 
vain. George and Fanny "take de road to de Ian' of happiness." 
"In our little circle the stars and bars are floating high." Virginia 
gives Peyton another rose and together they trace against the 
background of blue and gray "the golden thread of destiny." 



Shadows 



By MARY MONCURE PARKER. 
Price, 15 Cents 

Play of the South today and a dream of the past in 1 act; 
an interior scene; 3 males, 4 females. Time, 35 minutes. Charac- 
ters: Prologue and the Awakening: Robert Ashton, Virginia's 
sweetheart. Aunt Geranium, an old colored mammy. Virginia Lee, 
a southern maid. The Dream: Gordon Sanford, a soldier in love 
with Alice. Harold Hale, the successful rival. Mrs. Horace 
Fairfax, a stern mother of long ago. Alice Fairfax, her dutiful 
daughter. STORY OF THE PLAY. 

Virginia Lee's mother insists upon her marriage with a rich 
suitor, who has agreed to restore their impoverished estate. Vir- 
ginia has a sweetheart of her childhood days and hesitates in 
making a choice, but finally decides upon wealth instead of love. 
An old colored mammy, who has spent her life in the Lee house- 
hold, understands the situation and tells Virginia of a similar 
episode in the life of Virginia's grandmother. Virginia in ponder- 
ing over the incident and grieving over her own troubles, falls 
asleep. She dreams of the story just told and the dream folks 
appear and play their parts. Virginia awakens, the shadows flee 
and she comes to her senses and her lover. 

The old colored mammy says: "Dis heah ole worl's jes' full 
of shadders. Fokes comes an' dey goes, ripens and drops like the 
fruit on de tree. Ole Mars is gone, old Mistis gone. De substance 
mp-lts and fades away. Ain't nothing left but shadders." 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



OENiSON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Price 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, Unless Different Price Is Given 



M. r. 

Winning Widow, 2 acts, 1^ hrs. 

<25c) 2 4 

Women Who Did. 1 hr,..(25c) 17 
Yankee Detective, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 8 3 

FARCES, COIMEDIETAS, Etc. 

All on a Summer's Day, 40 min. 4 6 

April Fools^ 30 min 3 

Assessor, The, 10 min 3 2 

Baby Show at Pineville, 20 min. 19 

Billy's Chorus Girl, 25 min... 2 3 

Billy's Mishap, 20 min 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min.. 5 

Borrowing Trouble, 20 min.... 3 5 
Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 

Country Justice, 1 5 min 8 

Cow that Kicked Chicago, 20 m, 3 2 

Divided Attentions, 35 min 1 4 

Dude in a Cyclone, 20 min.... 4 2 

Family Strike, 20 min 3 3 

First-Class Hotel, 20 min 4 

For Love and Honor, 20 min.. 2 1 

Fudge and a Burglar, IS min.. 5 

Fun in Photo Gallery, 30 min.. 6 10 
Great Medical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 
Great Pumpkin Case, 30 min.. 12 

Hans Von Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 

I'm Not Mesilf at All, 25 min. 3 2 
Initiating a Granger, 25 min . . 8 

Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 

Is the Editor In? 20 min... 4 2 

Kansas Immigrants, 20 min... 5 I 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min 8 

Mike Donovan's Courtship, 15 m. 1 3 

Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

Mrs. Jenkins' Brilliant Idea, 35m. 8 

Mrs. Stubbins' Book Agent, 30 m. 3 2 

My Wife's Relations, 1 hr.... 4 6 

Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 

Pair of Lunatics, 20 min 1 1 

Patsy O'Wang, 35 min 4 3 

Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min.. 6 2 

Persecuted Dutchman, 30 min. 6 3 

Regular Fix, 35 min 6 4 

Second Childhood, 15 min 2 2 

Shadows, 35 min 2 2 

Sing a Song of Seniors, 30 min. 7 

Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 

Taming a Tiger, 30 min 3 

That Rascal Pat, 30 miri* 3 2 

Those Red Envelopes, 25 min. 4 4 
Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 

min 3 6 

Turn Him Out, 35 min 3 2 

Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 
Two Gentlemen in a Fix, 15 m. 2 

Two Ghosts in White, 20 min.. 8 

Two of a Kind, 40 min..... 2 3 

Uncle Dick's Mistake, 20 min.. 3 2 

Wanted a Correspondent, 45 m. 4 4 

Wanted a Hero, 20 min 1 1 



M. F. 

Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 2 , 

Wrong Baby, 25 min 8 

Yankee Peddler, 1 hr 7 3 

VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES, MON- 
OLOGUES, ETHIOPIAN PLAYS. 

Ax'in' Her Father, 25 min.... 2 3 
Booster Club of Blackville, 25 m.lO 
Breakfast Food for Two, 20 m. 1 1 

Cold Finish, 15 min 2 1 

Colored Honeymoon, 25 min... 2 2 
Coon Creek Courtship, 15 min. 1 1 
Coming Champion, 20 min.... 2 
Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m.l4 

Counterfeit Bills, 20 min 1 1 

Darktown Fire Brigade, 25 min. 10 

Doings of a Dude, 20 min 2 1 

Dutch Cocktail, 20 min 2 

For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 1 
Glickman, the Glazier, 25 min. 1 1 
Good Momin' Judge, 35 min. . 9 2 

Her Hero, 20 min 1 1 

Hey, Rube ! 1 5 min 1 

Home Run, 15 min 1 1 

Jumbo Jum, 30 min 4 3 

Little Red School House. 20 m. 4 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 2 

Marriage and After, 10 min.. 1 

Memohis Mose, 25 min 5 1 

Mischievous Nigger, 25 min:. 4 2 

Mistaken Miss, 20 min 1 1 

Mr. and Mrs. Fido, 20 min 1 1 

Oh. Doctor! 30 min 6 2 

One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 
Oshkosh Next Week, 20 min . . 4 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Gurl's Moder, 10m. 1 

Pickles for Two, 15 min 2 

Pooh Bah of Peacetown, 35 min. 2 2 
Prof. Black's Funnygraph, 15 m. 6 

Sham Doctor, 10 min 4 2 

Si and I, 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 15 min 2 

Stage Struck Darky, 10 min.. 2 1 
Sunny Son of Italy, 15 min.. 1 

Time Table, 20 min 1 1 

Tramp and t^e Actress, 20 min. 1 1 
Troubled by Ghosts, 10 min... 4 
Troubles of Rozinski, 15 min.. 1 
Two Jay Detectives, 15 min.. 3 

Umbrella Mender, 15 min 2 

Uncle Jeff, 25 min 5 2 

What Happened to Hannah, 15m. 1 1 



A sreat number of 

Standard and Amateur Plays 

not found here are listed In 

Denlson's Catalogue 



T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers,154 W. Randolph St. , Chica£o 



= LIBRftRV OF CONGRESS 



POPULAR ENTERTAI^ 

Price, Illustrated Paper Covei 




IN this Series 
are found 
books touching 
every feature 
in the enter- 
tainment field. 
Finely made, 
good paper, 
clear print and 
each book has 
an attractive 
individual cov- 
er design. 
A Partial Lict 

DIALOGUES 

All Sorts of Dialogues. 

Selected, fine for older pupils. 
Catchy Comic Dialogues. 

Very clever; for young people. 
Children's Comic Dialogues. 

From six to eleven years of age. 
Country School Dialogues. 

Brand new, original. 
Dialogues for District Schools. 

For country schools. 
Dialogues from Dickens. 

Thirteen selections. 
The Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 

Over 50,000 copies sold. 
From Tots to Teens. 

Dialogues and recitations. 
Humorous Homespun Dialogues. 

For older ones. 
Little People's Plays. 

From 7 to 13 years of age. 
Lively Dialogues. 

For all ages; mostly humorous. 
Merry Little Dialogues. 

Thirty-eight original selections. 
When the Lessons are Over. 

Dialogues, drills, plays. 
Wide Avy^ake Dialogues. 

Original successful. 

SPEAKERS, MONOLOGUES 

Choice Pieces for Little People. 

A child's speaker. 
The Comic Entertainer. 

Recitations, monologues, dialogues. 
Dialect Readings. 

Irish, Dutch, Negro, Scotch, etc. 
The Favorite Speaker. 

Choice prose and poetry. 
The Friday Afternoon Speaker. 

For pupils of all ages. 
Humorous Monologues. 

Particularly for ladies. 
Monologues for Young Folks. 

Clever, humorous, original. 



HH 



016 103 265 7 



Mono 

D 

Scrap 

Choice collections, pathetic, hu- 
morous, descriptive, prose, 
poetry. 15 Nos., per No. 2i)c 

DRILLS 

The Best Drill Book. 

Very popular drills and marches. 
The Favorite Book of Drills. 

Drills that sparkle with originality. 
Little Plays With Drills. 

For children from 6 to 11 years. 
The Surprise Drill Book. 

Fresh, novel, drills and marches. 

SPECIALTIES 

The Bbys' Entertainer. 

Monologues, dialogues, drills. 
Children's Party Book. 

Invitations, decorations, games. 
The Days We Celebrate. 

Entertainments for all the holidays. 
Good Things for Christmas. 

Recitations, dialogues, drills. 
Good Things for Sunday Schools. 

Dialogues, exercises, recitations. 
Good Things for Thanksgiving. 

A gem of a book. 
Good Things for Washington 

and Lincoln Birthdays. 
Little Folks' Budget. 

Easy pieces to speak, songs. 
One Hundred Entertainments. 

New parlor diversions, socials. 
Patriotic Celebrations. 

Great variety of material. 
Pictured Readings and Tableaux. 

Entirely original features. 
Pranks and Pastimes. 

Parlor games for children. 
Private Theatricals. 

How to put on plays. 
Shadow Pictures, Pantomirpes, 

Charades, and how to prepare. 
Tableaux and Scenic Readings. 

New and novel; for all ages. 
Tv\/inkling Fingers and Sway- 
ing Figures. For little tots. 
Yuletide Entertainments. 

A choice Christmas collection. 

MINSTRELS, JOKES 

Black American Joker. 

Minstrels' and end men's gags. 
A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedv. 

Monologues, stump speeches, etc. 
Laughland,vla the Ha-Ha Route. 

A merry trip for fun tourists. 
Negro Minstrels. 

All about the business. 
The New Jolly Jester. 

Funny stories, jokes, gags. 



etc. 



Large Illustrated Catalosue Free 



T.S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers,154 W. Randolph St. , Chicago 



